The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-05-13
Vivid Account Of an Earthouste.

4 gentleman in Nice during the recent
earthquake thus describes in the Brhi-
more Sun some Of the scenes he witnessed
Balls were held all over the city. but
there were 20, 600 people At the one great
ball of the night. went to that ball and
it was very late when I reached home.
l was quartered in the third flour of the
Grand Hotel Though it was nearly day
light l could not sleep, ard so lay IN bed
reading book. Suddenly and without
warning roar more terrible than q tor
nado came. A thousand mines seemed
exploding under the floor and thousand
trains Of cars seemed rolling over the
roof. The noise was INDISPENSABLE. Ii
seemed as if the world were being ground
to pieces and the city with it. The first
shock threw me into the middle OF the
floor, which tipped up like the roof OF a
house. tried to walk, but was pitched
headlong across the room. The bed rolled
! from side to side, and went after IT. 1
was shaken as a strong man shakes a
boy. As soon as l could master mysei
| managed by a great effort to reaeh
the door leading into Mr.. Burke's room;
adjoining. It was locked. l kicked
and pounded, but in that awful roar
could only Just hear his voice. lsnou'eu
as loud as | could, and yelled that 1t was
an earthquake-thatw we must fly 70 the
street. We burst open the double doors,
and in some way, l don't know how, got
down stairs. while the great walls, ten
feet thick. were cracking with artillery
ranorts The scenes in the corridors and
on the floors below US were Ike TOT IN
madhouse. Beautiful women, with
long, hair streaming down their backs,
rushed wildly around. beseeching inc
porters TO save them. One woman ap-
peared with bird cage and two canarles-
The birds were so frightened that they
hung backs downwards from their cage
with their eyes closed. Having ex-
perienced earthquakes in San Francisco,
thought l was familiar with them, but
at Nice the horror was beyond description.
On the street the people lost their heads.
Fifty dollars were offered for any kind Of
vehicle. Hundreds of ladies in their
night garments fell on their knees before
great rough porters more frightened than
themselves. Money could not hire them
to 90 into the buildings for trunks. We
dragged down our own luggage and
saved everything. Twenty thousand
people packed the public square.
The second shock was more terrible
than the first. To tell the truth, could
not remember whether it was two sec
onds or two hours after the first shock.
But it was fearful CONFUSION. Then the
panic became general. Think of ito,
900 people tryingto dodge 20, 900 build
ingsI l expected every moment to see
the city fall in ruins. New York could
not stand a minute under such shocks.
The great blocks of public buildings rose
and fell like ships in storm. The mo-
ton was unlike anything moved by nat
ural laws. Gravitation seemed entirely
suspended during the throes. My feet
would be in the air and in moment later
| could see the tops of four-story houses
as they leaned over on the earth pillows
sweeping across the city.
Fortunately for US, Mr.. Burke and my
self had purchased tickets for Paris on the
previous day. At the station we found
is, 900 persons praying to go on the next
train. The cars, holding seventy people,
were literally packed with humanity, but
a multitude who were outside could not
get near the train. As high as 1000
francs were offered for place on the
train. The first earthquake shock came
at 6 o'clock. At 0 o'clock word was re-
ceived by telegraph that another shock
from Rome or some other point would
reach Nice in an hour This created a
fresh panic. Men in excitement Shout
dered half dressed women, thinking they
were trunks. Women ran around trying
to save little trinkets, utterly bereft of
sense or judgment, and imploring the
guards to put them on the cars. The
morning train did not get off until noon.
Then l was happy. An earthquake
changes mans nature. / did not care
whether the town sank with everybody
in it if could only get away.